Loxley, Alabama (May 21, 2005) - Robbie Stuart has overcome a rocky start to his first full season on the O'Reilly SUPR Late Model tour, recovering from a nasty flip at the Dirt Track at Texas Motor Speedway in March, and then reaching a low point when he failed to qualify for the show at his home track, Thunder Valley Speedway to end the month of April. That was then; this is now for Stuart who claimed his first career victory at Deep South Speedway, leading all 30 laps on the big 4/10 mile oval to take the victory.
To say the least, the win felt good for Stuart. "It feels real good. I'm glad we finally did it." Stuart is quick to credit Ron Stuckey for his assistance with the car setup. "I've just been talking with Stuckey and changed a few things on it and got it going better." And clearly Stuart was clearly getting his game together in the past few weeks, recording top 10 runs in each of the past three events in his Stuart Timber/Jeremy Burge Allstate/Century 21 - Steve Delia & Associates/Gray Ford/Stuckey Enterprises Ford Taurus powered by Collins Engine Works Ford Spec Motor. Robbie kept that momentum up in the second heat race, out battling Ray Moore to take the victory and to earn the B&K Underground Top Qualifier award. This would put Stuart on the pole for the feature alongside Florida racer Frank Wilson.
Stuart would grab the lead on the start and he held it despite a pair of early cautions, the first for a spin in turn two by Wilson and the second on lap three when Ray Moore and Mike Ladner spun after contact between Moore and Ashley set off the tangle that also included Larry Lambeth. Ashley and Lambeth were able to keep their racers going while Ladner and Moore sat at the bottom of turn four. With the green flag waving once again it was Stuart followed by Ashley and Lambeth with Curt Lipsey, making his first start since the season opener at Baton Rouge, in fourth and Patrick Daniel in fifth. Lipsey, who won the opening heat race, would slow with ignition troubles and then Lambeth would slow with a blown motor on lap 14 bringing out the final caution of the race. Stuart continued to control the pace up front despite a strong charge from a trio of SUPR title contenders with 1999 O'Reilly SUPR Champion David Ashley leading the way. Patrick Daniel would recover from heavy chassis damage last week at I-30 Speedway to finish third ahead of Ray Moore, who recovered from his early spin to finish fourth.
Mike Ladner rounded out the top five.
Attrition was tough on the big South Alabama oval with three cars unable to make the call for the feature and only six cars still running at the checkers.
Official Results:
1. Robbie Stuart
2. David Ashley
3. Patrick Daniel
4. Ray Moore
5. Mike Ladner
6. Frank Wilson
7. Verlon Lee
8. Larry Lambeth
9. Curt Lipsey
10. Stephen Brantley - dns
11. Randy Little - dns
12. Rodney Bruce - dns
Heat 1:
1. Curt Lipsey
2. Frank Wilson
3. Patrick Daniel
4. Stephen Brantley
5. Larry Lambeth
6. Randy Little - dns
Heat 2:
1. Robbie Stuart
2. Mike Ladner
3. David Ashley
4. Ray Moore
5. Verlon Lee
6. Rodney Bruce -dns
To say the least, the win felt good for Stuart. "It feels real good. I'm glad we finally did it." Stuart is quick to credit Ron Stuckey for his assistance with the car setup. "I've just been talking with Stuckey and changed a few things on it and got it going better." And clearly Stuart was clearly getting his game together in the past few weeks, recording top 10 runs in each of the past three events in his Stuart Timber/Jeremy Burge Allstate/Century 21 - Steve Delia & Associates/Gray Ford/Stuckey Enterprises Ford Taurus powered by Collins Engine Works Ford Spec Motor. Robbie kept that momentum up in the second heat race, out battling Ray Moore to take the victory and to earn the B&K Underground Top Qualifier award. This would put Stuart on the pole for the feature alongside Florida racer Frank Wilson.
Stuart would grab the lead on the start and he held it despite a pair of early cautions, the first for a spin in turn two by Wilson and the second on lap three when Ray Moore and Mike Ladner spun after contact between Moore and Ashley set off the tangle that also included Larry Lambeth. Ashley and Lambeth were able to keep their racers going while Ladner and Moore sat at the bottom of turn four. With the green flag waving once again it was Stuart followed by Ashley and Lambeth with Curt Lipsey, making his first start since the season opener at Baton Rouge, in fourth and Patrick Daniel in fifth. Lipsey, who won the opening heat race, would slow with ignition troubles and then Lambeth would slow with a blown motor on lap 14 bringing out the final caution of the race. Stuart continued to control the pace up front despite a strong charge from a trio of SUPR title contenders with 1999 O'Reilly SUPR Champion David Ashley leading the way. Patrick Daniel would recover from heavy chassis damage last week at I-30 Speedway to finish third ahead of Ray Moore, who recovered from his early spin to finish fourth.
Mike Ladner rounded out the top five.
Attrition was tough on the big South Alabama oval with three cars unable to make the call for the feature and only six cars still running at the checkers.
Official Results:
1. Robbie Stuart
2. David Ashley
3. Patrick Daniel
4. Ray Moore
5. Mike Ladner
6. Frank Wilson
7. Verlon Lee
8. Larry Lambeth
9. Curt Lipsey
10. Stephen Brantley - dns
11. Randy Little - dns
12. Rodney Bruce - dns
Heat 1:
1. Curt Lipsey
2. Frank Wilson
3. Patrick Daniel
4. Stephen Brantley
5. Larry Lambeth
6. Randy Little - dns
Heat 2:
1. Robbie Stuart
2. Mike Ladner
3. David Ashley
4. Ray Moore
5. Verlon Lee
6. Rodney Bruce -dns
